Press Contact: Natalie Thomas
September 2025
- WNO Orchestra and Chorus come together for A Night at the Opera
- New production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman and the return of Blaze of Glory! for WNO’s 80th anniversary year
A Night at the Opera
WNO Chorus and Orchestra join forces for A Night at the Opera concerts this Autumn Season showcasing some of opera’s most loved and unforgettable melodies, featuring famous works from the world’s greatest composers. The concerts will include Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana, Un bel di (One Fine Day) from Madam Butterfly and Witches’ Chorus from Macbeth. These concerts are the perfect way to discover opera for the first time. A Night at the Opera will be at Theatre Royal Plymouth on Friday 31 October.
Spring 2026
Opening the Spring Season is a new production of The Flying Dutchman. Welsh director, producer and video designer Jack Furness makes his WNO debut to direct this fresh and contemporary reimagining of Wagner’s early masterpiece, which will be conducted by WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus. From the opening notes of the thunderous overture to the haunting arias, Wagner’s music evokes the power of the ocean, perfectly setting the scene for this tale which explores the deeply human emotions of loneliness and longing for connection.
In a fitting nod to WNO’s 80th anniversary, the Spring Season will see the return to the stage of Blaze of Glory!, which follows a group of Welsh miners as they embark on a musical journey to reform their male voice choir after a local mining disaster.
Steeped in the Welsh choral tradition and with community spirit at its heart, this is the perfect way to celebrate this special milestone for WNO, which itself emerged from the post-War period, sparked by the passion for music held by a group of amateur performers from across South Wales, including doctors, miners and teachers.
Composed by David Hackbridge Johnson, and with a libretto by Emma Jenkins, this uplifting show combines traditional Welsh harmonies with the a capella sounds of the 1950s, with operetta, gospel and big band added into the mix.
Caroline Clegg returns to direct, with James Southall conducting. Many of the original cast will return, including Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts as the Chorus Master Dafydd Pugh, Rebecca Evans as Nerys Price, Themba Mvula as Anthony and Feargal Mostyn-Williams as Bryn Bevan.
The performances will both open in Cardiff before touring to Theatre Royal Plymouth in April 2026.
Play Opera LIVE!
The Spring Season will also see the return of WNO’s family show, Play Opera LIVE which this time will have a Shipwrecked! Theme. Brought to life by WNO Orchestra and Chorus, Tom Redmond returns to steer the ship as presenter for this series of shows which continue to captivate audiences young and old.
To book, or to find out more about A Night at the Opera, visit: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/night-at-opera/.